1965 Shelby Cobra Heading to Mecum Monterey

All good things must come to an end, and so it was for the original Shelby Cobra. What you see here is chassis CSX2588, and it was the last 289 Cobra sold to the public. It is also the 2nd to the last Cobra to be assembled, as Mr. Shelby kept the final example for himself. The flawless Rouge Iris (Maroon) paint was resprayed by Shelby expert Colin Comer. Only 56 of the original leaf-spring cars were ordered in Rouge Iris, and this finish is better than new.

He purchased the car in 2006 after documenting the car’s history since new. Small block Fords love to rev, and the 4-speed transmission has perfectly spaced ratios. This is the last 289 with a 4-speed transmission, as Mr. Shelby’s CSX 2589 car was automatic from the beginning. This car is also rare thanks to Class A accessories.

That option package includes the 5.5″-wide wire wheels with AC knock-offs, dash mounted rear view mirror, wind wings on the A-pillars, chrome bumpers, and the quick fill gas cap. Many replicas wear parts like these, but it was rare for someone to splurge for extras on a car that was already expensive. Chassis 2588 is fully documented as a survivor by SAAC’s Cobra World Registry, so it deserves to be the centerpiece of your Cobra Collection. It will be a primetime lot at Mecum Monterey this weekend, so click the link below for all the details and stay with us for all your Mecum coverage.